Humidity questions for a first hatcher. A little help please!

[btpeters]

Please feel free to hazard any guesses to these questions... a little advice is better than asking my cat or 2 year old...

1--I just bought a brinsea mini and i am concerned about controlling the humidity. the directions say to fill one side of a well inside for the first 18 days, and then fill both sides for lock down...could it really that simple? I thought humidity was a crucial part of incubation, and this doesn't seem very exact a science.

2---Do you all think I should try to fit a humidity gauge in there? I hate to use up room for that device...mine is about 2x2 inches...do they make really small ones? any suggestions?

OR--should i simply test it before i put the eggs in, (but might the humidity change anyway once i put the eggs in?)

3---Also...if the humidity is not high enough (our house is so dry this time of year...) would it help to place a humidifier in close proximity?

Thanks!!!!!!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Dry house means the eggs dry out quicker inside the incubator so keeping the room humidity nutural (50%) would probably help of you were going to try it by the directions.

Pet stores do have really small humidity gauges that stick to tank walls.


Cant spell

 

[dsqard]

PM gryeyes, she has a lot of experience with that incubator. I think the humidity is really that simple with those, but I don't own one so I am not sure.

 

[JordanFamily]

I use a brinsea eco 20... The humidity depends on where you live. I'm in MO so for chicken eggs I can do the 1 well and then both at lockdown but I also need to add a wet sock or sponge at hatch to get the humidity to stay above 50%... Seems like with both wells full it is still hard to get it over 50%... So what I do at hatch is put a wet gym sock rolled up in there and string some thin tubing down from the water whole at the top and use a stringe to add water to the sponge or gym sock when needed... I use a small hygrometer called a cigar hygrometer and just place it on top of my eggs wherever it will fit... Good Luck...

 

[btpeters]

all good stuff, i love this forum!!!

i'll look for a smaller gauge just for my own peace of mind and may try the sponge thing too, if needed. you said that you do that "at hatch"---this may be a stupid question, but here goes...is that on day 21? lockdown? or just when you see them start to hatch? I'm a little fuzzy still on the whole "lockdown" and hatch phases.

i would like to PM gryeyes, but can't seem to find her/him listed??....anyone know how to contact?

thanks!

 

[JordanFamily]

Quote:
At day 18 when you open the incubator for the last time... Then it is lockdown and you do not open again umtil all are done hatching... Like I said I have the eco 20 which maybe different then the mini with humidity.

 

[btpeters]

OK--thanks for clearing that up.

I will check with someone who has the eco 10 as well, and test my own as i go through it to see if it needs additional help with the sponge or not...but that is a great idea i didn't know about. Thanks!

 

[gryeyes]

I heard my name ... LOL

Okay, pretty much one well for first 18 days, and both wells for entire lockdown period starting on day 19.

I use a small analog (round dial type) hygrometer I bought at PetSmart, in the reptile section.
Also, if the humidity goes too high, tip the lid back for about 3 seconds to let some escape. The 'bator recovers temp extremely well, and fast.

Did you get a MiniEco or MiniAdvance?

 

[btpeters]

I got a mini Eco---I thought it would connect me more with the eggs (and it was cheaper) Hope I don't regret having to do it all day. I'm home anyway though, homeschooling, so we'll just add it to our routine. How many times do you turn your eggs usually?

I'll look for the same hygrometer---mine works well, but may not fit with all the eggs I hope to cram in there. They are coming today or tomorrow in all this snow we are having here in Ohio!!!

Thanks for your tips...if you think of anything else, please let me know! You are the first person I have "talked" with that has the same incubator, but I know alot of people do have this one. thanks again.

 

[gryeyes]

Actually, I have a MiniAdvance, two MiniAdvance EX, and three Octagon20Advance EX units.

I needed fool-proof and Stupid-proof incubators. The EX units are the second type....

I am not home during week-days and I am old and forgetful, so I got 'bators that would turn the eggs for me. The recommended minimum number of times to turn 'em is 3 times a day, so you never end up with the eggs laying on the same side for the longest amount of time. Mark an X on one side, and an O on the other side of each egg, that way you will be able to see you have turned all of 'em.

Happy hatching! And PM me any time you wish.